Mexico, IICA Launch Bioeconomy Strategy to Combat Climate Change

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), introduced the Bioeconomy Sectoral Strategy for Mexico (ESBAM). This initiative aims to use agricultural waste to transform and adapt food systems to climate change while enhancing food security.

Víctor Villalobos, Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that bioeconomy offers a significant opportunity to harness agricultural waste and create inclusive bio-businesses. Mexico's biodiversity and strategic geographic position for international trade further bolster this initiative.

Santiago Arguello, General Coordinator of Agriculture, highlighted that ESBAM proposes converting biomass from various production chains into innovative, healthy, and safe products to meet the demands of a growing population. He noted that 30 to 40% of agricultural produce is wasted, with 70% of the country’s food passing through Mexico’s 66 central supply markets.

Arguello stressed the need for an agroecological transition driven by science and the recovery of ancestral knowledge, benefiting producers, the agro-industry, and consumers. He cited the increasing strain on natural resources and rising social demands as reasons to move away from traditional economic models.

Diego Montenegro, IICA's representative in Mexico, stated that ESBAM addresses the need to transform current agri-food systems, fostering bio-entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. The strategy promotes efficient natural resource use and the reuse of agricultural biomass in new industrial processes. Montenegro noted that Latin America’s biological wealth and strong human, productive, and scientific capacities make bioeconomy a strategic option for sustainable development in the region.

Adriana Itai Cruz, Director General of Added Value and Market, SADER, indicated that the strategy aims to sustainably increase agricultural production by at least 70% by 2050. This involves transitioning from linear production systems to integrated ones through innovation and technology, promoting sustainable development and social inclusion. Moreover, she pointed out that Mexico’s agricultural activity and biodiversity place it fifth among the 12 megadiverse countries. In 2018, biomass and residual biomass reached 278Mt, with 58% from forests and 27% from agricultural residues.

Bioeconomy, according to Cruz Muñoz, has the potential to generate high value-added products and jobs, efficiently use agri-food systems and natural resources, mitigate climate change effects, reduce water stress, and strengthen food security. An Agricultural Bioeconomy Observatory is being developed to enhance this knowledge, alongside participation in Latin American networks and international forums.

Alejandro Dávila, Project Coordinator, IICA Mexico, outlined short-term actions for the bioeconomy strategy, including systematizing successful cases, mapping public policy instruments related to bioeconomy, and incorporating bioeconomy into strategic plans for product systems. Dávila also noted ongoing interviews with key public and private sector informants to support research efforts.